P.S…Mum I Love You

Remember VIRUS from 3 idiots? And his Power nap of 7.5 minutes? :):)

I, too, am on a Power Break these days; Power Break of 3-4 days. I am with my parents, especially my Mum, having loads of fun and frolic, yummy food and dishes, shopping, long chats about dresses, hairstyles, lifestyle, home, furnishings, relationships and much more. It’s total fun-a world away from the world.

Courtesy: Google Doodle

But it’s not been the same since ever. It’s the same oh-so strict and tough Mom who ensured every intricate detail to inculcate discipline in our lives. Getting up on time, fixed playing hours, home-work on time, no bunk from schools, eating all veggies and that porridge, keeping our rooms and Almira tidy-in short, a total no-non-sense. Whether school or extra curricular activities, she has always inspired spontaneously. That’s how she nurtured a few skills too, in us. But at the same time, kept us always grounded. I remember getting even 98% marks at a time in school and still feeling ‘I could have performed better, had I attempted that exam question as she had taught me to’.

Like all other mothers, she has been protective too but never let her tears or emotions dwindle us. Instead, she kept things so convenient for us, providing all the comforts required, which we could never even realize as kids. Warm and nutritious food, clean and ironed clothes, neat and tidy rooms, in short taking care of our minutest necessity without even making us realize she’s doing it for us. Now that I manage my household, I can comprehend what pain she’s been taking all these years to make sure we are conveniently carrying out our chores and assignments. It’s now that I recognize she’s so much like me only (I know it’s vice-versa, but  I knew only myself till so many years) but she kept herself aside in nourishing us perfectly.

Courtesy: Google Images

Even today I wonder how convenient things seem to be, when she’s there, how I don’t need to put any effort in any planning or scheduling, how her mere presence makes everything seem so simple, so conducive. How sharing every minute detail with her gives so much of assurance and confidence that we are on the right track. How she always has some better idea/suggestion in every respect (sorry Papa, this is applicable to you as well, but it’s Mother’s Day, so today you can surely call me Mummy ki Chamchi).

Don’t know if I can ever become that indispensable part for my family but wherever I am, whatever I am, I’ll always need my Mommy.

P.S…Mum I Love You!!!

It’s the time to think ‘inside’ the box

What is the most interesting thing you have come across lately? What one single thing that amazed/shocked you in recent times?

The huge percentiles that people accomplish in CAT & other exams year after year or the cut-off list ending at mere 95% for the top universities; the dance performances by those young chaps in dance reality shows or Archana Pooran Singh’s hysterically continuous laughter in those comedy shows; the flashing breaking news for Sachin’s ‘shatakon ka shatak’ or latest news on Bollywood celebrities’ break-ups and patch-ups; the anti-corruption movements, indefinite fasts by variety of people or the news of murderous killings and accidents. What exactly makes you feel shocked? What is something that you never heard of before?

Yes, this is what I am trying to point out, as Simran at Radio City says, “the shock value of things has reduced to a great extent”.

Oh that dress is so common!

Hmm that dance is so average!

No no! his child is not very outstanding

Huh this hairdo is so usual

(Or as my boss says, “Oh is elevation ko dekh ke maza nhi aaya, do something nice/interesting)

Last Sunday I somehow managed to get a glimpse of  our handsome star Hrithik Roshan at Ambience Mall, where they announced to select a girl who could get a chance to dance with Hrithik. Now how they can select, and that too, randomly? One has to be really eye catching, drawing attention. A screeching voice came from the enormous crowd, “Hrithik we want to see you shirtless” and obviously she became the lucky one to reach the podium.

Hence, there is no limit to people exceeding limits today. In such a scenario, it’s really tough to genuinely utilize your talent and carve a niche in this world. The easy access to information in our era, has somehow made things seem so boring, so used-to, so common.

This is precisely the reason why we often see people adopting weird and even unfair means, at times, to seek attention. That is why there is a long queue of people  who strongly believe that negative publicity is still a publicity. Dolly Bindra, Pooja Mishra, Rakhi Sawant, Poonam Pandey, The Dirty Picture are some fresh examples. Even kids know this dialogue now-“Kuch logon ka naam un ke kaam se hota hai, mera naam badnaam hoke hua“. Then it reminds me the weirdest song of recent times Kolaveri Di, to which still my heart is amazed how can that ridiculous song be so popular, in spite of that my head knows the fact very well. How the oh-so usual film Delhi Belly turned into a blockbuster because of its bold and abusive language is another example that unless it is something striking, something weird, things don’t catch our eyes.

Looking close-by in our surrounds too, we often feel the intensity of such emotions when people behave in a certain manner that may guarantee them a tag called ‘different’ or ‘not like others’ or ‘not belonging to the herds’. The ones who can speak endlessly, present  their thought-provoking ideas which are actually total non-sense, the ones who dress so weird to carry a unique attitude  and confident image or the ones who show-off they are only comfortable having paranthas with fork or a poor banana too, with a fork. (Remember Delhi Belly, once again?)

When such things irritate us so much, we must put an end to them and of course, should start from ourselves. Getting a limelight is difficult, but going beyond sensibility to fetch that limelight-is it a right choice baby? If your answer is no, the rest of the post is for you.

Since there is no limit to excellence or talent in this world, that doesn’t mean we should not discover our own. You never know how many unexplored piles of talent lie within you. I read a sensible article few days back and arrived at a conclusion that keeping only you as a benchmark and striving to bring out the best in you, can ensure a much fulfilling, satisfying and contented lifetime than a rat race where in the end you still remain a rat. At least you are satisfied at the end of each day and even by the end of your life, that you lived a great life.

As Vinita Dawra Nangia pointed out rightly in her blog “The fight is not to leave others behind, but to achieve one’s own full potential.” Or else refer to Aamir Khan’s dialogue in 3 idiots “Chase excellence and success would follow.” Hence short cuts are only for those who believe they can not excel.

Living once again…this New Year

So guys, I believe the New Year bash is finally over. After spending around a week in wrapping up 2011, rewinding all the important as well as beautiful things it brought by, making your houses as well as minds clutter-free, resolving the dilemma of making New Year Resolutions or not, having good food, fun and frolic, sending and receiving so many New Year wishes across friends and family, and above all, spending a lazily luxurious Sunday at the start of this fabulous year 2012, you might be back to the normal lives now.

Like most of you, the only words I could hear/read in this time is – HAPPY NEW YEAR. It seems as if everybody is programmed to utter those words before beginning any conversation or write them on their pages to do their bit; their bit in wishing that the current year brings all the joys and happiness to you, that your dreams may come true, that you make all success in this current year.

But you also know well, happiness doesn’t come solely through wishes. Being simply happy for the rest of the year, is not an easy game. It requires certain efforts on our part too. Although I had shared this post last year on the ways to stay happy, I believe, by now, you too might have made certain efforts in the earlier years of your lives, understanding what all can make you happy.

But this year, come forward to understand what takes you aback, what spoils your peace of mind. See why you become vulnerable to the situations and how you allow them to pre-dominate and encroach on your time. Hence, before focusing on other targets that you have lined up for this year, strike at the very basic necessity of living better. Learn to let go, to forgive; whether it’s somebody else or you, yourself. Make an actual new start this new year. Promise yourself to be stronger than the situations, to at least not let petty things overwhelm you and your peace, to not let them drain out your new energy and enthusiasm.

I am sure this de-cluttering, this unloading of resentments can let you focus 100% on the things that are genuinely important, that can make a difference in your lives indeed. Only then, those hundreds and thousands of wishes will work wonders.

To let a happy start to my New Year, I pampered us with this rich Vanilla Fruit and Nut Cake made at home. After all, they say You Live, Only Once. Then why not live happily.

Up above the world so high, like a Bird in the sky

It’s a beautiful day, an unusual one; when something I never even dreamt of, is coming true. I am all animated, all elated-without any idea what’s going to happen next. Looking for the instructor to call my name, I am in a desperate wait for my turn now. I had not set it as a new year resolution or a goal to accomplish before I turn 30 or even the one in my bucket list, but see I am lucky enough to be flying on my own in a while. I am trying my best to compose all the random feelings and thoughts arising inside my head and heart and attempting earnestly to behave calm and alert too. And here comes the man with all the stuff to get me set for the ride.

Very dutifully, I have packed myself well, to avoid any kind of problem or hindrance in my delight. And now I start running, with a pounding heart and held breath. Before I could expect anything, within 10-15 steps of running, it is hard for my feet to continue. The upthrust of air has started pulling me up; the gliding machine tied to me, has started exhibiting its aura around me.

And now, there’s no ground beneath; I have crossed even the edge of cliff I was running on, a few seconds back. All that I can see is deep valleys and contours looking similar to a view at Google Earth. The cool air is not only flowing, rather carrying me too with it, yes I am actually flying now. The wings have spread fully and I am feeling like a bird. In total rhythm of my flight and the breathtaking views from the sky, I have even forgotten who I am. Time has paused now and nothing else is on my mind.

I could never see this world from that perspective ever. After living those elaborate 15 minutes of my life in the air, it’s time to get down now. Now I should look down to find an appropriate place to land. As I am sailing down, the details of Google Earth again start getting zoomed in, clearer picture of the landscapes, the hills, the roads, the trees, the water-everything is getting more and more crystal-clear. But there are too many power lines there and I m afraid I may not hit into them. So I should be more careful. But despite my best of efforts, I am getting closer and closer to those cables.

‘What are these roaring sounds now? Ohh they are so loud, so annoying. I have to get my way down.’ I am perplexed, I am confused-what is this coming in my way, plundering the pleasure of the most perfect moments of my life. In no way, I’ll let it ruin the end; the whole flight will not be well if it doesn’t end well. But the sound gets even more rowdy and strident. I move my limbs in rescue and to my horror, I find my cell phone ringing the alarm bells vehemently.

‘Oh no! don’t tell me it was a dream. Don’t tell me it was all not real. No, I don’t want to wake up.’ I turn my alarm off on snooze and am trying getting it back. But I have lost it by now. Even after trying gravely for 15-20 minutes, I can not get back that sensation again. And with no other option left, I am back on ground, landed safe and sound to get up and get going for the office. ‘If one can manage paragliding in this chilling weather, then going to office is not such a big deal. So what if it’s a Monday morning.’ That’s my way of consoling myself.

One Year:expressed-by-words

The New Year Day is yet 16 days away, then which one year I am referring to? Since you clicked the title to read this post, by now, you might have a fair idea of what the rest of post is all about.

That’s right, it was one year back that I posted something on this space. Although my husband was pressing upon me since long  to start-up a blog and write about our excursion to the Indian heritage in Agra and Fatehpur Sikri, accounting for the delicacy and artistry, we caught a glimpse of. But I was not very sure, if I wanted to have a blog, if I had any plans to continue it further and even if I do, what all I’ll be posting about.

But sometimes it is better not to Begin With The End In Mind . Because at such times, you are destined to undergo something as blissful as my experience with expressbywords.

Refinement of random thoughts

Once I framed the first draft of our journey, composed it with all that we actually felt there, refined those early drafts with suitable vocabulary and grammar, transformed the entire experience into words and posted it on the web, it was such a pleasure looking at that self-written post again and again. And then followed the obvious-’an addiction to this pleasure‘.

Unlike journal-ling, this process has somehow created a few preserve-able pieces of writing, which I can cherish throughout my life. Because it’s not merely emptying the contents of mind on paper and that is why it didn’t need to be burnt away or torn into pieces.

Keener observation

Now things don’t simply pass across my mind. Rather, a natural process of ‘being analyzed automatically’ has inculcated into the mechanism and the worthwhile are kept for further consideration .

And as someone has said ’90% perfect and published always changes more lives than 100% perfect and stuck in your head’. So it further encourages to get keener on observing the world around. Also, I stated long back-“I have so many thoughts and I need to communicate them” And today for me, things are not expressed well unless they are expressed-by-words.

The new connections

The best of all is the new kind of bonds it created, whether the people I already knew or those whom I never met, with the people who are like-minded or what Marya calls as her own tribe. So I won’t miss this chance to thank you all-in whatever way you’re connected to expressbywords, I am glad and thankful that you devoted your precious time here.

In this one year, expressbywords has become a ‘Way of Life’ to me. And I hope and I wish it goes way ahead further for many more years and takes much more beautiful shape. As of now, let’s celebrate this happy occasion with a chocolate or anything else that you like to have. Once again, heartiest thanks to you all.